Multiple-thread tension device for sewing machines



A. B. CLAYTON MULTIPLE THREAD TENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed D96. 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 will. .mll

INVENTOR MAM 3 M 47 W ATTORN E Y Dec. 16, 1924.

A. B. CLAYTON MULTIPLE THREAD PENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed Dec. 7, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR A a v ATTORNEY I WITN SE5:

mug M Patented Dec. 16, 1924.

UN HE TT E F F E QC E TEN ANDREW B. CLAYTON, OF UNION, NEV] JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO THE SINGER MIANU- FACTURING COMPANY, OF ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW JERSEY.

MULTIPLE-THREAD TENSION DEVICE FOR SEWING MACHINES.

Application filed December 7, 1922.

To all whom it may concern-.-

Be it known that 1, ANDREW B. CLAYTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Union, in the county of Union and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Multiple-Thread Tension Devices for Sewing Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to multiple needle sewing machines and has for an object to provice a simple and compact thread-tension device which will handle a plurality of threads with substantially equal treatment.

Another object of the invention is to provide a multiple-thread tension device of compact and simplified construction which is adapted to receive any desired number of thread-tension elements with which it may be supplied.

Another object of the invention is to provide an intermittent multiplethread tension device or nipper particularly adapted for handling a plurality of looper-threads in a multiple-needle, multiple-looper sewing machine.

According to the present improvement there are provided two groups or assemblies of spaced thread-tension element; each assembly preferably comprising a support to which the tension elements are secured in spaced and stacked relation by means of suitable separators and fastening means. The two assemblies of tension elements are so cooperatively related that the elements of one assembly or stack extend into the spaces between or, in other words, are inter leaved with the elements of the other assembly or stack, whereby pairs of coacting tension elements are provided. By shifting or rocking one of the tension-element supports the tension-elements of one group are simultaneously shifted toward or away from the respective tension-elements of the other group to tension or release the threads passing between the respective pairs of tensionelements.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a fragmentary side elevation of a sewing machine embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the tension device, shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a section on the line 3, 3, F ig. 1. Fig. 4 is a disassembled perspective Serial No. 605,351.

view of the device. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one group of tensiorrelements shown in Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a plan view of one pair of coacting tension-elements, and Fig. 7 shows a modification of the invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6 inclusive, 1 represent the tension support which may be secured to the bed 2 of a sewing machine by means of screws The support 1 is preferably formed with a sea 4 for the squared lower or shank ends of a stack of similar tension-elements or nippersprings 5 held in spaced relation by suitable separators 6 through which and the springs 5 pass the holding screw 7; the latter clamping the stack of nipper-springs 5 against the vertical wall or clamping surface 8 of the stationary support 1.

Projecting from the side of the support 1 is a bearing pin 9 on which is journaled for rocking movement the support 10 having a seat 11 for the squared lower or shank ends of a second stack of similar tension-elements or nipper-springs 1 which are held in spaced relation by suitable separators 13 equal in thickness to the separators 6. A screw 13 passes through the springs 12 and separator 13 and clamps the stack against the clamping surface 13 on the movable support 10. The upper endportions of blades of the nipper-springs 12 are preferably offset from their respective shanks and are thus adapted to be inter leaved with the nipper-springs 5 to form a plurality of pairs of coacting tCDSlO11-GlQ- ments. Preferably, each of the nippersprings 5 has edge lips 1 L bent at right angles to the plane of the spring proper and slotted at 15 to fori'n thread guides. The blade of each flipper-spring 12 is received between the bent lips 14 ofits respective coacting springs 5, as shown in Fig. 6.

In the specific embodiment of the invention illustrated in Figs. l to 6 inclusive, the tension device is of the intermittently operated type and the movable support 11 has secured thereto by a screw 16 an arm 17 having a lateral extension 18 project ing across the end of a plunger-pin 19 slidably mounted in the apertured lug :20 formas it,.is usefuhin constanttension devices.

on the main-shaft'23 of the sewing ma-.

chine. Acoil, spring 24, one endof which is anchored in the movable support 10 and the other end to the collar fixed to the bearing pin 9, yieldingly rocks the support 10 in a direction to separate the movable tension-elements 12 from their respective cosactingelements 5 and retain the.

sionsuvill: be shifted simultaneously and to:

substantially equaleX-tentsby the action oftoward or away frointhe nippingelements the .cam 22 'and'plunger-pin Won the rocking support-.110. The-pressure on 'eachqof the tension-elements is transmitted to it in-i.

dependently ofany other tension-elements and the tensions exerted I on the threads bythe .several tension-elements are: equal. In other. words, the present tensiondevice treats'the several threads equally, in all .ree

spects, :as, is usually desirable in sewing. machines having a plurality of needlesorloopers. 1

Theztension device shown .anddescribed in F1g.;1 no.6 inclusive is of the intermite.

tcntly operated type particularly. adapted to tension or .nip the respective threads with suflicient intensity to. prevent slippage of the threads.

The invention is not to. be understood as limited to. tension devices of the :intermittently operated .type however,

such as shown inv Fig. 7, Whereinan .adjustmgscrew 26 and lock-nut. 27 are subjustingthe screw 26 the several-tensions may, be adjusted simultaneously and: to equal extents.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, What I claim herein is 1. A multiple thread-tension device comprising a pair of relatively movable supports, a series of interleaved. thread-nipping elements mounted alternately in spaced relationaon said supports, and means for relatively moving said supports to shift the nipping elements. carried by one-.su-pport carried-by the other support.

2. A ,multi-ple thread-tension device comw pr 1s1ng:.-a stationary .support, a movable.

support pivoted on saidstationary. sup-;

/ spaced relation on said stationarysupport,

inspaced relation on said movable support anduinterleaved Wit-h theusprings ofa stit'uted for the...cam-op.erated plunger-W19.

The device; shown inzFig. 7 is in all other- .resp.e cts;., substantially the same. as .that.

shown in.,Figs. 1 150.6 inclusive. By ad.-.

a second series of nipper-springsmounted said .first mentioned series, andameanssfor ,momng said movable .support.

3..A multiple .threa'd'tension device (101K11- prising a pair of-relati-velyamovable-sup:

ports each havingaangularly related-clamping nnd seating surfaces, and a series. of" iinterleavedflat elongated thread nipping elements carried by said supports, .thej.ele-. ments carried by each support being se-r cured to a clamping surface of. suchjsup- I port .With their ends in engagement with a seating surface of. such support.

ANDREW B. CLAYTON,

In. testimony whereof, I have signedmy w;

. name to this specification. 

